Hiashi Hyuga recalled a long-forgotten promise and stared blankly at Hizashi Hyuga.
Hizashi looked at Hiashi, whose expression was full of complex emotions. "I hate the Main Family, and even now I still hold resentment. But precisely because of that, I'm not seeing you as someone from the Main Family anymore—I'm seeing you as my older brother. If you're my brother, then I'm willing to take your place.
For me, this is also a choice, a form of freedom. Neji Hyuga has always seen me as weak and subservient, so I understand more clearly what it means to have one's own will. I didn't die merely to protect the Main Family—I chose with my own will to die protecting my brother and family."
Hizashi turned and walked toward the exit of the dojo.
Hiashi struggled to speak out: "Wait... Hizashi, do you truly want to choose death in exchange for freedom? What about Neji Hyuga?"
Hizashi smiled lightly and said, "Me taking your place in death is something everyone here accepts—including you. You've already accepted that I should be the one to die, haven't you?
Now you're asking me this question—are you remembering? The promise we made back then?
But it's too late. That promise can never come true again. Even just once, I want to defy the fate of the Hyuga clan.
In the end, I want to choose my own destiny—and nothing more. I also want to prove to Neji Hyuga that, even if just once, I overcame my own fate. Because this is the path I chose—not something anyone else forced me to do. Fate rests in our own hands—we must forge our own path."
Hizashi opened the door to the dojo and stepped outside. He gathered chakra in his palm and struck his own left chest, channeling it inward to hit his heart.
Blood trickled from the corner of Hizashi's mouth as he staggered forward, each step more labored than the last. Finally, his body weakened and collapsed onto the ground.
As he hovered on the edge of death, Hizashi saw Neji Hyuga approaching.
Neji fell to his knees beside Hizashi and cried bitterly.
Hizashi slowly raised his heavy hand and rested it atop Neji's head. "Neji… I am finally free…"
Neji tightly gripped Hizashi's hand and pressed his face against his father's palm. "Father, you're finally free. You've worked so hard. Rest well now. You no longer need feel guilty for my sake—you don't owe anyone anything anymore."
With a smile on his face, Hizashi closed his eyes forever.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and others stood silently before Hizashi's lifeless body, gazing solemnly at the corpse.
Hiashi, supported by members of the Hyuga Main Family, also arrived before Hizashi's body.
"Hizashi..."
At this moment, Hiashi's eyes were red-rimmed.
Seeing Hizashi's dead body right before his eyes reminded Hiashi of their past promise. Guilt welled up uncontrollably inside him, and tears streamed down his cheeks.
The Hyuga elders, however, didn't dwell on these feelings. Their current task was simply to hand over Hizashi's body to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Neji Hyuga..."
Neji Hyuga glared fiercely at the Hyuga elder. "Old fool, shut up!"
Even though Neji was only four years old, his sudden burst of fierce aura immediately silenced the elder.
Neji gently placed Hizashi's hand on the ground.
Standing up, Neji shot a cold glare at Hiashi Hyuga. "Who are you pretending to cry for now? These old men? The Third? The Main Family? Or are you crying for the Branch Family?"
Hiashi opened his mouth. "Neji, I—"
Neji cut him off coldly. "Don't bother with those hypocritical words. My father doesn't owe your Main Family a thing anymore! He's not part of the Branch Family anymore—he's simply a clansman of the entire Hyuga Clan, nothing more!"
Neji removed the forehead protector from Hizashi and tightly gripped it in his hand.
Without another word, Neji cast one final glance at his father's lifeless face, clenched his teeth, and walked away alone.
At this moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had been silent until now, let out a deep sigh. "Konoha overcoming this crisis was thanks to Hizashi's sacrifice and the noble act of the Hyuga Clan. On behalf of all of Konoha, I sincerely thank you all. I believe the Hyuga Clan will surely become one of Konoha's strongest pillars in the future."
With those words, Hiruzen was basically declaring the Hyuga as Konoha's top ninja clan from now on.
The Hyuga elders quickly voiced their support for Hiruzen.
Hiashi looked at his brother Hizashi's corpse with complex emotions swirling inside him.
That childhood promise—Hizashi had always remembered it.
But he himself had long forgotten.
However...
Even if he did recall, what difference would it make? It was just childish talk after all.
They were both fated to be born into the Hyuga Clan—a fate none could alter.
This was precisely the foundation upon which the Hyuga Clan had endured until today.
As the head of the Hyuga Clan, he had to consider the interests of the entire clan. Even when it came to his own brother, he needed to steel his heart.
The Hyuga elders sent two members of the Main Family to carry Hizashi's body to the entrance of the Hyuga clan grounds, where the Anbu formally took possession of it.
From there, Hizashi's body would be handed over to the Kumo ninjas stationed in Konoha, bringing this matter to an end.
Early the next morning,
Chinya stood at the entrance to the Hyuga clan grounds, waiting for Neji.
With a facial expression as cold and unyielding as ice, Neji walked out from within the Hyuga compound.
As Neji approached Chinya, he showed the first hint of emotion when he saw him—
A flicker of grievance, despair, resentment, confusion, and sorrow...
Chinya reached out, gently ruffled Neji's hair, then extended his hand toward him. "Come on. This place is no longer your home. Let's go home together."
Neji placed his small hand in Chinya's palm and followed him away.
...
A week had already passed since Hizashi's death.
His body had already been taken to Kumogakure by the Cloud Ninjas.
Seeing Hizashi Hyuga's Byakugan, already ruined by the Caged Bird seal, Raikage A knew he had been tricked, yet there was nothing he could do about it.
After all, when the Cloud Ninja obtained Hizashi's corpse, his Byakugan was still intact.
Truthfully, Raikage A had only meant to scare Konoha a little.
If Konoha Village had responded more aggressively, refusing to hand over the man even at the risk of war, Kumo would not have pushed too hard either. At most, they would spread rumors throughout the Shinobi World accusing Konoha of breaking their word, just enough to annoy them.
After all, rushing into war prematurely would only benefit those like Iwagakure Village and Sunagakure Village.
Now that Konoha had handed someone over, the matter had to end here. Furthermore, Kumo needed to reestablish an alliance with Konoha in order to avoid criticism from others.
The news of Konoha's alliance with Kumo spread across the entire Shinobi World.
As for the truth behind Hizashi Hyuga's fate, few people knew the real story.
The villagers of Konoha believed the alliance with Kumo had gone smoothly, and were actually celebrating this newly forged alliance with joy.
<><><><><><><><>
Thank you for reading! Your support will keep me updating!
~ Every 50 Powerstones = **4 Bonus Chapters** this weekend!
<><><><><><><><>
~ 100+ Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon!
~ More *Free* Chapters and Books Available on Patreon!
patreon.com/Tansnovel
<><><><><><><><>